On 27 Nov 2016, a PIPER PA28 140 operated by Gateway Flight Training LLC. was involved in an aviation accident near St. Louis, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A solo student pilot reported a bounced landing during which the propeller struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts and fuselage.
Incident Details
A solo student pilot was performing a landing when the airplane bounced multiple times on the runway. During one of these bounces, the propeller struck the runway surface. The student pilot reported that after the bounce sequence, he taxied the airplane to the ramp without further incident. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. The student pilot was the sole occupant of the airplane.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination was conducted on the aircraft. The examination revealed substantial damage to the engine mounts and the fuselage. The damage was classified as substantial, indicating structural impact. The examination did not uncover any preexisting mechanical issues that would have prevented normal operation. The aircraft was inspected at the ramp after the pilot taxied it there.
Contributing factors
Student/instructed pilotLanding flare — Not attained/maintained